India is raising USD2 billion via sovereign green bonds. Here’s why this needs an external audit.

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Synopsis
Sovereign green bonds are a key instrument to finance India’s decarbonisation efforts. While the issue of these bonds is a step in the right direction, the long-term success in raising the much-needed financial resources will depend on the level of detailing and transparency in the process.

In the course of the next two weeks, India is set to raise around USD2 billion (around INR16,000 crore) through the issue of maiden sovereign green bonds to fund the country’s energy-transition journey towards a low-carbon economy. It is early days in the uphill task to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2070. India was the third-largest emitter of carbon dioxide in 2020 in terms of volume. Sovereign green bonds are a key instrument to